Rotherham boss Paul Warne welcomes the pressure of being league leaders

Posted Sunday, January 19, 2020 by PA

Rotherham manager Paul Warne welcomes the pressure that comes with being top of the table after his side kept their place with a 3-0 victory over Bristol Rovers.

Kyle Vassell and Michael Smith both struck early in the second half from Chiedozie Ogbene’s crosses before the impressive Ogbene tapped in the third.

The victory made it five League One wins in a row and kept them ahead of Wycombe on goal difference.

Warne said: “There is nothing nicer than knowing you are top of the league but with that comes pressure and people wanting to knock you off your perch. The longer you stay up there, the better.

“Since December, we have got more like what we expect. The levels have improved in training and the lads out of the team are desperate to get in. It just keeps pushing standards up. In that respect that is what pleases me.”

Warne was particularly pleased with Ogbene’s display which was capped off with the third goal.

He added: “Chiedozie got the goal that was reward for his second-half performance. I thought he was unplayable.

“He will have a great career if he keeps playing at that level.”

Warne also praised his side’s improvement in the second half.

He said: “First half, they made us work really hard out of possession. In the second half our performance justified a win.

“I think if they would have scored at 0-0 then the day could have taken a different route.

“We got in good positions first half but the final ball wasn’t the best.

“Rovers did create chances. They had a right go.

“Overall I thought we deserved to win.”

Rovers should have taken an early lead but former Miller Jonson Clarke-Harris inexplicably fired wide from just five yards out.

Caretaker Rovers manager Kevin Maher – again in charge as boss Ben Garner continues to be absent due to a family member’s illness – felt that was a critical moment.

He said: “I’m disappointed with the result. For 45 minutes, the gameplan we had worked very well.

“We contained them at the right times but offered a threat on the break and exploited the areas I thought we could.

“Once they got the second goal, it killed us really. We knew their threats and we spoke about doing the basics right. We did that in the first half but second half not as much and that cost us.

“There are positives there but we are frustrated because we lost the game. I thought the shape was good and there are one or two new players.

“If Jonson takes his chance it’s a different game. On another day that goes in and it can be a lot different.

“He should hit the target at least. When it’s going for us, then that goes in, but we will keep going, stick together and keep working.

“I said to the players that they have to stick to doing the basics right. If we do that then something will change for us. One win can turn it around for us.”